Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-07-15
DIAMOND CUTTING. :
American Work said To Be Better tn.
That Done at Amsterdam.

That Done At \ m~trFu1WA
40 what extent has diaiacad-et'
ting been developed in this country
was the query pu, by the writer TO
!, leading diamond merchant on Maidei
lane.
We'll. was the reply. as Yet il es'
hardly he considered As an element Il
our diamond business. II is. in fact
in its infancy. snd its beginning date
back scarcely more than fifteen Years
! presume there are not Two hundret
persons AZ the most engaged in thu
branch Of the diamond trade. and they
are confined chiefly to this city and
Boston. There are but few foreigner:
smong them. for \ large number oi
American boys have been educated Il
the trade within recent wears. An
apprenticeship Is served. ! think. III
about three years. II is not likely.
however. that the work Of palishin 2
and cutting diamonds will acquire Any
substantial position ia this country for
many wears 10 come, mainly beeais>,
labor is 80 much cheaper ia Amsrcr-
dam. where whole families are engaged
IN this trade. Whenever the demand
for the stones Is lcssenei, these ran
and do resiacc the price TO q figure With
which ii would be utterly impossible
for Americans 10 compete. II would,
Of course, b. a grcst advantage If We
could ls-ing the diamond here in its
rough STATE in large quantities. ~
We would thereby save the duty al ten
pr cent charged on the cut stones
kut al the present iin.e the quantity Of
roagh diamonds imported Is no; sssiii-
eieni TO make any aPpreciahle differ
snce in the price, or to influence the
market in any respect.
-.There Is no doubt 2t.oBt our execi-
asncv Ia cutting stones. We have de-
selolsesi a style which Ia eertain sx-
tent sacrifices material IN shaping thu
ssnne hni j; Obtains thereby the lesi
effect. ISlis j. Whist j. mo>i desired
I1ae credit II the Introduction Of this
aew siyle is lsrgsly due 10 Boston
snAn, who Was Slso the iirst 10 instruct
American i.ess in the arr If cutting and
polishing. We haze ai>o n,Aae same
improvements in machinery, bnt iie
b.; laps for polishing diamonds are
sill imported from Amsterdam
The wages paid 10 these diamond
caii.rs msy Ne considered high. and
the more skilled werkmcn are paid at
- mneh per cars; in the rough. rh.
woskmtn must have coed Judgment !
a. so the form ia which the stone win I
cat the best Sometimes great deal 4
must be eat firm the ronsh STONE 10
col rid Of imj~ifccIion-. aud again il i /
preferable 10 save material nv leaving
ihea8 His Judgment must decide
the >lonr viii he more yslua-
bic when small without a flaw. ar
nhca larger with the flaw. As
= general thing there are al
wsys imtsrifections IN the rough stones,
nnd the main thing 30 be observed 10
buying them j. whether the flaws eaa
bc easily tradicStea. Oar city has not
yet attained the dignity of being
market for rough stones, and We still
GO to Amsterdam, London ANA Paris
jar oar supplies
Yes. there are more diamonds sold
~ this country ibaa ever before, bnt
iAe increase II dealers has been IN
naueh larger proportion than that of il-'
consumers The demand AZ present i
mostly for small diamonds for maxim
no into ornaments n y. Commercial
t3m-tffe.